Free school meals for reception child short fall

[Lilacbluewaters]

My daughter has free school meals she is in reception but I’m still having to pay a short fall each week. Is this normal? Is it not fully covered?
also she has a piece of toast every morning at snack time which is £3 a week. I am on universal credit and struggling atm to make ends meet and thinking £3 a week for 5 slices of toast is extortionate.
is this the norm though?

Mine are in secondary school now (and it's not the normal here) when school meal prices went up we were told it didn't effect fsm. Re toast when mine were in R they were given free milk (if aged 4 or on fsm) and all dc were given a piece of fruit.
Have you spoken to the school? They may waiver/reduce the cost if you need them to.

When my younger two were in YR only fruit and milk was free at break time. FSM covers lunch only I believe.

Snack time is other funded.

What's she having at lunch? Fsm only covers 2 courses, our school had to put a message out that if dc had starter main and pud there's an additional charge. Lots of parents didn't know their child was taking all 3!

Not sure about the rules for charging extra for meals for ‘free’ school lunches but it seems unlikely to be a thing that’s normal.
We don’t charge and neither do either of my kids schools.
£3 for toast is extortionate. A whole loaf doesn’t even cost that much. We charge 10p a slice.
Does she even need the toast?

So your kid is in reception class? 4 or turning 5 this school year?

In that case, assuming it is a state school in England, then no you should not be paying a top up. How is school asking for this is it a "voluntary" payment? If so simply say no - can't afford it.

Toast at breaktime is a separate matter. If your child is 4 they should be getting milk and a fruit/veg snack. If they have turned 5 they won't get the milk.

Schools are struggling and funds are extremely tight but those meals are provided to ensure the kids eat - charging a top up is wrong.

I've never heard of parents being asked to fund a shortfall in the price of school meals. It would be inappropriate to ask families who meet the criteria for fsm to pay that.

However some years parents in my son's class have been asked to contribute some small amount to cover the cost of an extra snack (provided by the teacher and TA rather than the school, I believe).

Thanks for the replies, she turned 5 in December. I feel in an uncomfortable position and embarrassed to say to the school I can’t afford the payments of £5 a week. It is a state school, what is the best way to go about it?

You need to ask the school for a breakdown. If she's paying goods at break etc or drinks then FSM won't cover that

Buying food

also it’s on parent pay school website, so I don’t think it’s a voluntary payment. My account is in -

dd says she has one slice of toast in the morning and a satsuma in the afternoon. At lunch she gets a main meal and a desert (jelly or rice crispie cake something of the sort)

I would bet the money is for the toast, I'd speak to the school- I've been where you are and know it's hard but honestly no one will judge and you won't be the only one struggling I'd bet. Whoever you feel more comfortable talking to I'd just ask what the charge is for and how to opt out. Often schools charge x for snacks and then the profit goes into the funding pot; it should be made clear that its not mandatory. They can't charge a 'top up' for the FSMs.

I would check with school, they should be able to pull off exactly what she has

Do you qualify for income based FSM, not just the universal free school lunch for infants? It may be worth checking, as the school could get extra funding

Are you saying you're paying for a shortfall towards the FSM AND £3 for toast, or are you seeing the £3 for toast as the shortfall?

Either way, please don't be embarrassed to talk to the school. They'll be completely used to such conversations. There will be more requests to come, such as for any outings or outside providers coming to the school. Typically these are voluntary as pp have said.

Two courses of lunch should be completely free.

Just have a chat with the office about the toast.

We have to take in a enough snack for the class once or twice a term. I usually give breadsticks. This works out as more like £5 a term rather than a week. You definitely shouldn't have to be paying towards school lunches in a state school and I would be questioning this

We send our own morning snacks in - can you not send in your own snack instead of the toast? Asda do ten small scones for 78p and a pot of jam for 40p that would probably last a fortnight if you froze half the scones.

As you are on universal credit have you completed the free school meals form on the government website?

https://www.gov.uk/apply-free-school-meals

You'll probably get redirected to your local council site. But sometimes the school manages their own. You do not need to speak to anyone just fill in the form. If your child qualifies it comes with other benefits too with significant extra money to the school so please do try.

Especially if your child qualifies here you should not be paying extra for a 2 course lunch.

Talk to the school first. Mine went into minus, was set up wrong. Scotland so all free till later in primary.

Just find out what is causing it and go from there.

Reception aged children are all entitled for FSM.

I would just write an email informing the school that you cannot afford the top-up and won't be paying it any more. They can't refuse your child the fsm she is entitled to. I'd also stop paying for the toast and send in my own snacks.

Reception, year 1 and year 2 all get free school meals on a low income. I've never heard of a shirt fall for FSM. I would offer to take a loaf of bread each week and Amy bag of cheap fruit, explain you can't afford £5 per week. I would also ask to see a policy before paying a short fall.

They are all entitled to meals... Not all are entitled to Pupil Premium, of which FSM is part of.

Say no to the toast and send in your own snack instead?

Foundation stage children get universal school meals which do not cost the parent anything. They also get free fruit for a snack. This lasts until the end of Year 2.

Foundation stage often ask for snack money for toast but you should not be paying for any other shortfall at all.

Speak to the school to find out what exactly you are paying for. Explain that you are struggling and you may either be able to get the toast for free or to be able to send in a cheaper snack for your daughter.